There are many ways to assemble a wacked-out elevator - and many of them show up emulating a rearward CG. If there is something, anything that decreases the effectiveness of the stabs & elevators - it can seem like the CG is too far back. The effectiveness of the stab and the location of the CG are closely related. If your stab is somehow less effective, the acceptible CG moves forward.

So, check to make sure your servos are up to the job. Not just torque, but make sure the gears are OK. What pushrods are you using? If it's any type of flex-rod like gold-n-rod, you have a prime candidate for poor linkage. What about hinging and gaps. Are the hinges tight. Are the gaps sealed?

Paul makes a good point on surface travel. Too much is a bad thing. Some people think they want more control on a test fllight, because they'll need it if there's trouble. problem is, the travel volume itself is often the cause of trouble. Set a low rate and switch to high if you need it. Not the other way around.